Decaf green tea is a great choice for people who are sensitive to caffeine or want to cut it out of their diet. However, a few important things should be kept in mind.
First, decaffeination doesn’t fully remove all of the caffeine from tea leaves. And, the most common methods of decaffeination also affect the flavor and antioxidant content.
1. It’s Not a Caffeine-Free Drink
It’s no secret that green tea is loaded with antioxidants and other nutrients, making it a healthy drink for many reasons. It eases headaches, improves dental health and boosts metabolism and immune system function. It also may help prevent a variety of conditions from cancer to heart disease, according to research and reports.
But if you’re sensitive to caffeine, green tea can still be harmful. Caffeine is a stimulant and should only be consumed in small amounts, as advised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eight ounces of green tea contains about 25 to 29 mg of caffeine—that’s about half the amount in black tea, per the FDA.
Even if you’re not sensitive to caffeine, it’s best to avoid drinks that contain it in large quantities. Too much can cause jitters, heart palpitations and insomnia. It can also lead to dehydration, which is bad for all of us.
The good news is that you can get all of the healthy benefits of green tea—minus the caffeine—with decaf brews. Just be sure to check how your tea is decaffeinated, as chemical solvents can leave traces of caffeine in the final product. Most brands include the amount of caffeine in their products on the packaging, and you can look up a brand’s decaffeination methods online for more information.
2. It’s Not a Sleep Aid
Green tea is a great beverage, but it’s not the best sleep aid because of the caffeine. It can cause a diuretic effect which means it promotes urination and can keep you up. Even if you’re not sensitive to caffeine, drinking green tea too close to bedtime can keep you awake.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, it’s best to avoid it altogether. However, if you want to enjoy those nifty green tea health benefits and don’t want the negative side effects, decaf green tea is a good option. There are two industrial methods for removing the caffeine from green tea leaves. One involves steaming the tea, frying it, and then drying the leaves. The other involves treating the tea with ethyl acetate. Both methods remove the caffeine but they also reduce the amount of nutrients that are in the leaves, including antioxidants and polyphenols.
There is also evidence that some of the ingredients in green tea can help you sleep better, such as L-theanine. This amino acid can help you relax and focus. It can also induce alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with meditative states and relaxation. Having a cup of tea at night can be a nice way to decompress and wind down from a busy day. It’s also a great way to get away from your screens and build a relaxing, nighttime ritual that can promote a restful sleep.
3. It’s Not a Weight Loss Aid
Green tea has been hailed for its healthy properties, and for good reason: It contains antioxidants that can lower your risk of certain diseases, like heart disease or cancer. The brew also helps with weight loss and can reduce headaches. But what if you can’t stand the taste of caffeinated tea or have other reasons for avoiding it? Well, you can still reap the health benefits of green tea by drinking decaf.
There are a few things to note when it comes to decaf green tea, though. First, the decaffeination process can strip the leaves of some nutrients and can leave them with watery flavors. Additionally, the chemical-based decaffeination methods (like methylene chloride or ethyl acetate) are more toxic than steaming, boiling and drying techniques.
Despite these issues, decaf green tea has been shown to be as effective at fighting free radicals as regular green tea, according to an August 2015 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Additionally, a small March 2018 study found that decaf green tea can help improve memory.
However, you should be aware that high doses of green tea can interact poorly with certain medications, including blood pressure and heart drugs. It’s also important to note that a diet rich in sugar is linked to obesity and tooth decay. For this reason, you should try to limit the amount of added sugar in your tea or coffee.
4. It’s Not a Healthy Drink
The decaffeination process used in most grocery store teas can leave behind a cocktail of toxic chemicals, including methylene chloride and ethyl acetate. These two chemicals are among the most common in the industry. Unfortunately, they are also some of the least safe to ingest.
They are especially hazardous when combined with caffeine, which is already a relatively potent chemical. This is why many people are hesitant to consume decaf green tea at night. The toxins found in the chemicals can interfere with sleep, cause nausea and upset stomachs, aggravate acid reflux and trigger migraines.
Additionally, the decaffeination process reduces the antioxidant content of a cup of tea. This is a major bummer, since green tea is known for its anti-cancer properties. Its disease-fighting flavanols can prevent oxidative stress, which is linked to chronic diseases and age-related issues like heart problems and Alzheimer’s.
So is it possible to enjoy green tea without the caffeine? Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to a cup of caffeinated tea. You can brew a cup of herbal infusion to help you fall asleep or a bowl of soothing matcha for an energy boost. You can even try a decaf version of black tea for a hearty breakfast. Just be sure to read the label carefully and pay close attention to how your tea is processed.